Neonatal survival in swine: Effects of low birth weight and clinical disease

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Data were collected for 3,636 full-term pigs born in a commercial swine herd to determine the effects of birth weight and clinical disease on survival during the first 3 weeks of life. Logistic regression models were constructed for 7-day survival for all live-born pigs, and for 21-day survival for pigs surviving the first week of life. Estimates of birth weight and disease effects were adjusted simultaneously for other risk factors including litter size, parity, and within-litter variation in birth weight. The 7-day survival model indicated that survival odds improved significantly with increasing birth weight. Maximal survival, relative to pigs weighing < 601 g at birth, was evident in pigs weighing > 2 kg at birth (odds ratio [or] = 349). Diarrhea (or = 2.7) and splayed limbs (splay leg; or = 37.3) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced 7-day survival. Models of 21-day survival indicated a smaller, but still significant, effect of birth weight on survival. Acyusted survival odds for pigs in the heaviest weight group ( > 2 kg) were 20.1 times higher than pigs weighing < 801 g. Diarrhea (or = 2.7) and lameness (or = 2.6, 2 limbs) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased 21-day survival.

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